A report from the Homeland Security Department Office of Inspector General found that some security services are lacking in several federal buildings.
According to the report, The Federal Protective Service identified deficiencies during 786 security post visits between July 2019 and September 2023. In 218 of these cases, contract guards lacked knowledge of proper security procedures. For example, in a 2022 inspection of a federal facility in Pittsburgh, a guard told a visitor to leave the firearm in a bush in order to re-enter the building.
It is required that a follow-up inspection occur after a deficiency has been reported during a security visit, but it was found that 129 cases did not have a follow-up inspection out of the 258 that were reviewed.
Differences in training may contribute to the oversight. According to Government Executive, contract guards and not allowed to leave their assigned posts for security threats elsewhere in the building due to differing state and local laws regarding the right to self-defense and authority to detail. Because of this, more unnecessary injuries or loss of life are likely to occur. According to the report, FPS is working with the Office of Management and Budget to develop legislation that would allow contract guards firearm and arrest authority.
The Federal Protective Service reportedly spent nearly $1.7 billion on contract guards for 2,500 facilities.
Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market.
